C°py of part of a Letter , from Fleming Martin, E fay 
chief Engineer at Bengal], dated if October, 1765, 
T N regard to the intenfe and uncommon heat in this 
**■ climate j it has been for fome time pad almoft 
infufterable. 
The thermometer was feldom under 98, and' the 
quickfiiver rofe at certain times of the day to 104. 
degrees, by the bed adjufted inftrument ; nay, I have 
Peen allured by fome gentlemen, that, in the camp 
500 miles diftant, the thermometer often ftcod at 
1 20 ; but Inch a dirrerence, I imagine, was occafcned 
by the badnels of the inftrument. 
However it is certain, that nothing could exceed 
the intenfe heat wc felt day and night, during the 
month of june. May and july were little inferior 
ut times, but afforded fome intermiftion ; otherwiie a 
very great mortality muft have attended this fettlement, 
though we were not without inftances of fatal effects 
in the month of june, when fome few individuals in 
found health were fuddenly feized, and died in the 
fpace of four hours after; but, confidering the malig- 
nity of the climate, we have not loft many, and I 
believe the generality of people are not fo intemperate 
as fome years paft they ufed to be ; though, from what 
I have feen, the beft conftitutions in the moft moderate 
perfons are a poor match againft a fever or other 
diforders in this country. 
I have been as free from ftcknefs, as any other 
perfon in the fettlement ; but I cannot fay that I have 
enjoyed myfelf in that degree as to be an exception ; 
for no man here is without complaints, and life and 
death . 
